A California man accused of intentionally driving himself, his wife and two children off a cliff on a coastal highway in January 2023 has been granted a delay in his trial for mental health reasons, putting his criminal case on hold, the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office announced in a news release Thursday.
Judge Susan Jakubowski said she granted the defense’s request for mental health diversion after considering the evidence and concluding that Dharmesh Patel’s appropriate diagnosis was severe depression.
Patel, 42, was charged with three counts of attempted murder last year after allegedly intentionally driving his Tesla off a section of Pacific Coast Highway known as the “Devil’s Slide,” causing him, his wife and their two children, then ages 7 and 4, to plummet about 250 feet onto a rocky shore. Patel has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
All four members of the family survived the crash. San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said at the time that Patel’s wife was hospitalized with “serious injuries” and the couple’s 7-year-old child was also injured. The family has since recovered.
Currently, at the suggestion of the defense doctor, Patel will be held in the county jail for two weeks as a “bridge period,” according to the release. Patel will remain in custody until his next hearing on July 1 for “further court-ordered proceedings.”
As part of his diversion arrangements, Patel will be required to remain at his parents’ home in San Mateo County upon his release and will only be allowed to leave the home to attend court or treatment sessions, according to the release.
The statement said the defendant will be required to wear a GPS monitor, report to court once a week for progress reports, undergo medication compliance testing twice a week, abstain from alcohol and drugs, be prohibited from possessing weapons, and be barred from driving, and must surrender his driver’s license and passport to the court.
CNN has reached out to Patel’s lawyer for comment.
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